Chapter 31
Thirty-One
Talia
In the passenger seat of the Porsche, I run a hand over my carefully curled mane of red hair. I glance at my husband.
My heart thuds. My husband.
God, he really is my husband now.
Dare holds the door open for me and takes my arm, giving me a little smirk as we walk up the few feet to the Morgan estate. I am just as nervous as I was the first time I saw the mansion with its time worn facade.
But I have been coached this time. I know better than to let my nervousness show.
Instead, I paste a smile on my lips and pull Dare an inch closer, cozying up to him as we approach the enormous front door of the Morgan estate.
We are dressed to kill, Dare in his usual suit, me in a clingy white dress that is strapless and ends just below my knee.
I think the flowers that decorate the low neckline are meant to suggests that one might get married in a dress just like this.
However, I couldn’t envision wearing such a dress on my wedding day.
The clingy nylon fabric is almost see through.
It might be okay for some people’s weddings, but it is a far cry from the fairy tale wedding I have somewhere deep down in my heart. I know that my marriage ceremony to Dare Morgan will not be nearly so casual as my dress implies.
I can’t even sit down in this dress; then again, I don’t imagine that I will be able to in the beautiful princess gown that Rob will put me in when I publicly vow to be part of the Morgan family.
As we walk through the doorway, my senses are on high alert. I’m surprised to find quite a few people at the Morgan estate when I step through the threshold. I lean close to Dare, whispering my observation.
“There are a lot of people here, all dressed in their Sunday best. It’s funny, I don’t think I recognize anyone, but I’ve lived and worked in Harwicke all my life. Where do you imagine these people hide out when they aren’t at your family’s mansion?”
His brow furrows and he puts his lips close to my ear.
“I think that Burn and Daisy have called all their family and friends to announce their wedding. I wasn’t briefed before we came, but that seems like the obvious occasion.”
I nod. “Makes sense.”
“All right,” Dare whispers. “Get ready to put on a show. My brother is heading this way.”
Suddenly, I find that my mouth is dry as a bone.
I scan the room, looking up all the lovely party guests in their finest cocktail attire.
Out of the corner of my eye I see a waiter making the rounds with a stack of short glasses of amber liquid.
Making eye contact with him, I raise my hand, summoning him with two fingers.
He makes a beeline for me, and I take a glass off the tray before he even manages to tell us that it is whiskey.
I take a huge gulp just as Dare pulls on my hand, taking away the glass. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I look up at him and then realize that I am not supposed to be drinking. Beckoning for the glass, I spit the contents out. Dare frowns and shakes his head then puts the glass back on the tray. “Sorry. She is on antibiotics.”
The waiter looks confused but Dare just leans forward, accepting a new glass and waving the waiter away again. Once the waiter moves on, I look at Dare. He gives me a cool smile.
“Take it easy. You look like a rabbit caught in a snare.”
I glance around, whipping my hand at the people around me. “It’s not an unfamiliar feeling. I’m trapped in a place where I don’t know anyone. The rabbit and I are not in totally dissimilar circumstances.”
Dare puts his arm around my waist and pulls me close. “I’m the only hunter you have to worry about right now, darling girl. I’ll protect you from everyone else.”
I part my lips to respond to him but I don’t get the chance to say anything else.
Burn and Daisy strut over to us, looking pleased with themselves.
Burn’s smile could not be more smarmy if he tried. “It’s good of you to come to our little engagement party.”
Dare gives him a smile that cuts like a knife. “It’s the first time hearing of a gathering, actually. But that’s all right, Burn.”
“Dare, dear,” Daisy says. Her voice is bright, but I can see that there is an edge to her words. “You haven’t introduced us to your date yet.”
Dare starts to open his mouth but I cut in first. “Actually, we have met. The last time I was here, you introduced yourselves.”
Daisy cocks her head, her eyes narrowing on my face. “Are you sure?”
“I definitely remember you, Daisy. Dare has told me so much about you.” I notice her flush, and I give her my big fake smile.
“You know, if you want, my uncle is a neurologist. You should probably get yourself checked out if you are having trouble with your memory. It’s only been two weeks, for god’s sake! ” I look to Dare. “Hasn’t it, darling?”
Dare is looking at me like I have grown a new head. He blinks and then gives himself a tiny shake.
“She is right, Daisy. By the way, this is Talia. But I don’t expect that you remember other people.”
Burn laughs. “You make us sound like monsters. I assure you, Talia, we are not anything of the sort.”
Just act like you belong, I tell myself. Smoothing a hand on my dress, I move closer to Dare. “Well, you will have to get used to me. Won’t they, Dare?”
Dare’s eyebrows go up and then he looks over at my ring finger. “Oh no! I forgot to give you your ring back. I had it resized.”
Dare reaches into his pocket and produces the same black velvet ring box that I saw yesterday. I assume that he hasn’t had the time to get it adjusted but he opens the box and plucks the ring out of the setting, sliding it onto my finger. To my surprise, it fits with ease.
I smile at him, leaning in for a kiss. He lays it on thick, smooching me several times and pulling my waist against his body. I pull back and give him a longing glance.
When I look at Burn and Daisy again, the sheer fury and envy in their eyes steals my breath away.
I smooth my hand over my ribs, glancing nervously at Dare.
Dare puts his arm around my shoulders and kisses my head as if he has done it a million times before.
A shiver runs down my back but I just compress my lips into a thin line.
“Actually, we thought that we could add our note of celebration to today’s festivities,” Dare suggests.
“Don’t you dare,” Burn says, his voice low and threatening. “This is our engagement party.”
Dare protests that, seeming to weigh the pros and cons, then shrugs. “I mean, we did get married yesterday. But hey, if you want us to keep it hush-hush for tonight, we will be glad to. Remy will still be here tomorrow.”
Burn’s eyes narrow on Dare’s face. “I think that would be best. By the way, when I find out what cheap madam you bought her off, there will be hell to pay.”
I look at Burn and Daisy, a note of puzzlement on my face.
“A madam? I think you have me confused with someone else. Dare and I met at a party here. Outside, just a few weeks ago. I don’t want to be too lovey-dovey, but I knew that I felt something for Dare the first time I laid eyes on him. Isn’t that right, darling?”
Dare stares at me, murmuring, you are perfectly right.
The tender, loving way that he stares down at me makes me blush bright pink. But I swallow and raise my head, asking for a kiss. He knows just what I want, and he gives it to me in spades. His lips are hot, his tongue sinuous, the whole kiss is enough to set me on fire.
“This is our night,” Daisy snaps. “You better respect that.”
We pull apart and I kiss Dare’s knuckles.
“No problem,” Dare says. He doesn’t look away from my face though.
Burn grabs Daisy by the hand and hauls her off, the two of them whispering like a couple of angry hens.
“Bravo,” says a voice. I turn around and see a man that looks familiar and one that I’ve never seen before.
The one I’ve seen is Uncle Felix, I think.
The one I haven’t seen wears a three-piece suit and has sandy blonde hair.
He is good looking. That is, if you aren’t a such a sucker for the dark, tortured type as I am.
I find myself comparing him to Dare and finding the stranger lacking.
Dare jumps then, with a grin lighting up his face. “You came! Guys, this is Talia. Talia, this is Tristen and my Uncle Felix.”
I fold my hands against my waist and nod at them, strangely unwilling to shake their hands.
Tristen just smiles. Felix, the familiar looking one, is the same as Dare, only thirty years older and fifty pounds lighter.
He has dark features and he is graying at the temples.
Not graying, almost salt-and-pepper, except for a stripe down the back.
Felix doesn’t say a word, just looks at me with an assessing gaze that chills my blood. Tristen is quick to greet me, though.
“So, you are Talia. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I wasn’t entirely sure that you were real.” He grins. “It’s good to know that Dare hasn’t completely lost his mind yet.”
Dare gives him a sly grin. “Tristen and I went to high school and college together. We definitely got into our share of trouble.”
Tristen gives me a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t tell anybody. I prefer to leave them guessing.”
“Felix, how are things?” Dare asks.
The older man looks at Dare, raising an eyebrow. “Things are fine. If you have time today, I would like to steal a few minutes to talk about the site where we are supposed to start the drilling.”
Dare’s brows furrow. “That’s important. But I think tonight is going to be more about personal intrigue, sadly. Talia and I just got married yesterday and I need to rub it in my brother’s face. I already told him and Daisy and to say they were surprised is a delightful understatement.”
Felix purses his lips. “I need two minutes. Just step over here and let me fill you in quickly.”